Carmania (Ancient Greek: Καρμανία, romanized: Karmanía; Old Persian: 𐎣𐎼𐎶𐎴𐎠, romanized: Karmanā; Middle Persian: Kirmān) is a historical region in southeastern Iran that approximately corresponds to the modern province of Kerman. It was a province of several successive Iranic empires, including the Median, Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian (Arsacid), and Sasanian empires.
Geography
Carmania bordered Persia proper (Persis) and the Persian Gulf to the west, Gedrosia (modern Makran) to the southeast, Parthia (later known as Abarshahr) to the north, and Aria to the northeast. Ancient sources distinguished between "Carmania proper," a cultivated and fertile region, and "Desert Carmania" (ἡ ἔρημος Καρμανίη), the northern deserts stretching toward Parthia and Areia. The principal city was Karmana (also called Arta/Jiroft or Sirgan/Sirkan), and the main seaport was Harmouza (old Hormoz, near present-day Minab).
History
Pre-Hellenistic Period
In the Early Bronze Age (late third millennium BC), the Jiroft culture flourished in the region. Carmania was conquered by Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire, in the sixth century BC. According to the Babylonian writer Berossus, Cyrus granted Nabonidus, the last King of Babylon, Carmania as a vassal kingdom after the conquest of Babylonia in 539 BC. Under Darius I, the Royal Road was built through Carmania, and the region was administered as a sub-province of Persia. It may have become a separate province by the late 5th century BC.
Hellenistic Period
During Alexander the Great's conquest, the satrap Aspastes was executed for plotting rebellion, and Alexander appointed Sibyrtius and later Tlepolemus as satraps. Alexander founded the city of Alexandria Carmania in 324 BC and consolidated his empire there, executing several governors accused of misconduct. After the wars of the Diadochi, Carmania came under Seleucid control in 309 BC. It remained a Seleucid province until the mid-2nd century BC, when it was conquered by the Arsacid (Parthian) Empire.
Post-Hellenistic Period
Under the Arsacids, Carmania was a vassal kingdom. In 210 AD, the ruler Balash was defeated by Ardashir I, founder of the Sasanian Empire, and the region was annexed. Ardashir founded the city of Weh-Ardashir (later the site of modern Kerman) and appointed his son as governor with the title Kirmanshah. During the Sasanian period, Shapur II forcibly deported Arab tribes to Carmania, and the region was settled with various clans. During the Muslim conquest of Iran, Carmania was conquered by forces led by Mujashi ibn Mas'ud al-Sulami in the 640s AD.
Economy
Carmania was noted in antiquity for its mineral resources, including copper, salt, sulfur, ochre, orpiment, and agate. Silver mines supported coinage minting, and turquoise was also extracted, though of lesser quality than from Parthian mines. Sissoo wood from Carmania was used in the construction of Darius I's palace at Susa. The region was known for its wines, which were exported through the port of Hormuz. Effective road communications facilitated trade with other provinces.
Population
The inhabitants were known as Carmanians (Ancient Greek: Καρμάνιοι Karmánioi; Latin: Carmanii). Under the Achaemenid Empire, they became Persianized, sharing cultural and linguistic similarities with neighboring Persians. Strabo described them as a warlike people who practiced cannibalism, though this may reflect ancient topoi rather than historical fact. Herodotus listed Carmanians among Iranian tribes that had adopted agriculture. The region was also home to the Sagartians, Isatichae, and Pasargadai tribes, as well as coastal inhabitants known as the "Turtle-eaters" at the time of Alexander.
